Activity Report Explorer

Rio Grande Valley Broadband • Entered by Susan Ostlie on March 31, 2022

Beyond Secretaries, Hostesses, and Cooks: The Power, Humility, and Compassion of Women who Battled to Save Wilderness

March 8, 2022

Key Issue: Doesn’t apply
Activity Type: Grant Funded Climate Education & Stewardship Program
Key Partners: National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Short Description of Activity

Beyond Secretaries, Hostesses, and Cooks: The Power, Humility, and Compassion of Women who Battled to Save Wilderness
Michelle L. Reilly, Ph.D from the Fish and Wildlife Service will share her insights behind the women involved in the early days of the conservation movement. Come hear the stories about women who were in the trenches of the wilderness movement from its inception.
In 1964, the 88th Congress passed an act to establish the National Wilderness Preservation System for the permanent good of the whole people, and for other purposes. Before the Wilderness Act was passed, 66 drafts of the bill were written, and Congress debated for eight years.
During this time, from the 1940 to the 1960s, women were still seen as homemakers and husbands’ helpers. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Commission on the Status of Women and appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as chairwoman. In a televised 1962 discussion with Roosevelt, Kennedy stated, “We want to be sure that women are used as effectively as they can to provide a better life for our people, in addition to meeting their primary responsibility, which is in the home.”
Society viewed women as homemakers and housewives. It is no surprise then, that stories of women’s role in our wilderness history are seldom told. It is disheartening that the important female figures of our wilderness history are not credited. These stories have a critical place and need to be heard. This presentation tells the stories of several women who contributed to our wilderness legacy

Reflection/Evaluation

This was a most entertaining take on the history of women in wilderness. I reminded me of the display boards I created for the Wilderness 50th celebration in 2014. They had large photos of 11 women who were significant in the history of wilderness, and an explanation of the contribution of each of the women. It was a part of a scavenger hunt for children, but I had many adults who also participated, and were excited to tell me what they had learned about these women. I wish I still had those display boards, but I think they ended up in Cinny Green’s home, and I haven’t been able to determine if she still has them anymore…